Kennedy Way Community Garden

CVST Kennedy Way Community Garden was opened on the 13th October 2021. It is a collaboration between The local NHS – Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care System (SNEE ICS), site owners NHS Property Services (NHSPS), and Community Voluntary Services Tendring (CVST).  

CVST are the service providers and manage the garden. The garden sits in the centre of the patient and staff car park at the Kennedy Way Medical Centre which was opened in May 2022. The project is a vibrant inclusive space for those who want to become part of the local community. It is a safe space to help improve your physical health whilst benefiting your mental wellbeing. The garden is an invaluable resource for social prescribing. People can be referred via their social prescriber at their GP surgery or are welcome to self-refer.

Within the garden there are various projects to get involved in: the garden, the Men’s Shed and the Upcycling Hub. The garden is organic and experiments with ways to improve soil health, encourage wildlife and to grow unusual vegetables. There are ongoing projects, for instance the sensory garden and the wildlife hedge. 

There are raised beds, vegetable and flower beds, grassed areas with benches and a community hub. There is also fitness equipment (one of them being wheelchair accessible) that is free to use and accessible seven days of the week.  The Community Hub has been used by external hirers, for instance McMillan Cancer Support and Tendring Specialist Stroke Services. 

The Men’s Shed is a space to work alongside like-minded people interested in woodwork where the sessions are overseen by volunteers. Current projects include hedgehog boxes, bird boxes and table and wooden puzzles. Thecreative upcycling hub is a perfect space to creatively turn the unwanted into something useful and beautiful. So, it’s all in place for you to come along to help create a haven for the community and wildlife